Vintage long range optics!

[TonyTheTiger]

http://imgur.com/a/osbt0
Got to crawl around in the B-25 Mitchell 'Yellow Rose' today. The machinery they packed into these flying pop cans is fascinating even 70 something years later.

 

[Dan M]

Norden Mk XV ...nice piece of WW2 history

 

[TonyTheTiger]

I knew someone on here would know exactly what that was.

 

[eicas]

At the show today?

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Yup. I couldn't believe it when the guy told me it was only $3 to hop in.
http://imgur.com/a/IMioY
Managed to get 2 of my boys to sit still in the nose long enough for a pic. They were pumped to say the least.
Not sure why the pics won't embed though...

 

[sandwarrior]

What 's the difference between the Maxson and the Norden?

Here's an X-1 for sale:
https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item...e-reflex

Here's a shot of the Norden Mk XV They look a lot alike.:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fb/Norden.JPG/350px-Norden.JPG

 

[Dan M]

That is a reflex sight mounted on a Norden. That is just the upper half of the system (sight head), it needs the stabilizer and autopilot (SperryA-5) to complete the system.

ETA- the reflex sight allows for earlier acquisition of target data.

 

[eicas]

I was there Wednesday. B-25s and A10s did some work. They had a BONE come by for the night show, along with the 25s. Lots of moisture in the air and the bone did a nice high speed run with a decent vapor wall.

 

[MarinePMI]

Interesting post. Hits home for me, as my grandmother used to talk a lot about her work during WWII, assembling the Norden sights (apparently she had very steady hands and installed the crosshairs/wires). Before that, she was a riveter for Boeing; mainly because she was a 4' 10" chinese women, and small enough to get into the tail gunner section with a rivet gun. Go figure...